tyke

or tike

[tahyk]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tyke ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a child, especially a small boy.

any small child.

a cur; mongrel.

Chiefly Scot. a low, contemptible fellow; boor.

Origin of tyke

1350–1400; Middle English < Old Norse tīk bitch

tyke

or tike

[tahyk]

noun

Australia and New Zealand Informal. a Roman Catholic.

Origin of tyke

1940–45; compare Ulster English Taig contemptuous term for a Roman Catholic Irishman, archaic English teague derogatory name for an Irishman < Irish Tadhg a common personal name

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for tyke

boy, cur, dog, child, squirt, mongrel

Examples from the Web for tyke

Contemporary Examples of tyke

The tyke asked the gov his favorite part about being governor.
Turns Out Chris Christie Hated Traffic on the George Washington Bridge, Too
David Freedlander
January 15, 2014

Historical Examples of tyke

You're in Bermondsey, mister, an' if you tyke my advice you'll go 'ome an' sty 'ome.
Changing Winds
St. John G. Ervine
If I tyke it I want to feel it is syme as my very own and do my dooty by it, pore thing!
The Christian
Hall Caine
"And down't you tyke on so, Lidjer," said the husband, and they looked as if they were about to embrace.
The Christian
Hall Caine
Naow, I'll styke my reputation on somethin', you tyke it dahn word for word.
The Foundations (Fourth Series Plays)
John Galsworthy
And what d'yo' think o' that, Mr. M'Adam, for a wunnerfu' story of a wunnerfu' tyke?
Bob, Son of Battle
Alfred Ollivant

British Dictionary definitions for tyke

tyke

tike

noun

a dog, esp a mongrel

informal a small or cheeky child: used esp in affectionate reproof

British dialect a rough ill-mannered person

Also called: Yorkshire tyke British slang, often offensive a person from Yorkshire

Australian slang, offensive a Roman Catholic

Word Origin for tyke

C14: from Old Norse tīk bitch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for tyke

c.1400, "cur, mongrel," from Old Norse tik "bitch," related to Middle Low German tike. Also applied in Middle English to a low-bred or lazy man. The meaning "child" is from 1902, though it was used in playful reproof from 1894.